# US 2013/0157746 A1 · Gaming apparatus, system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157746 A1 - Document ID: US20130157746A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/718,117 - Filed: 2012-12-18 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Dynamite Games Pty Ltd - Inventors: Benjamin James Ellis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157746A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A method of gaming comprises displaying play of a wager game having a plurality of stages with progression through the stages being dependent on a predefined gameplay criterion. Each of the stages is associated with a feature event that is awardable to the player in response to a trigger event being detected. In response to determining that a trigger for a particular stage has occurred, the feature event associated with the particular stage as well as the feature event(s) associated with any preceding stages are awarded to the player. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of gaming comprising: displaying play of a wager game having a plurality of stages with progression through the stages being dependent on a predefined gameplay criteria, each of the stages being associated with a feature event that is awardable to the player in response to a trigger event being detected; in response to determining that a trigger for a particular stage has occurred, awarding the feature event associated with the particular stage as well as the feature event(s) associated with any preceding stages. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising resetting play of the game to a first stage upon the feature event(s) being awarded. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein a value or potential value of the feature event increases with each stage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined gameplay criteria is that a particular game outcome has either occurred or not occurred during play of the respective stage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined gameplay criteria is that a predefined amount of gameplay has occurred, the predefined amount of gameplay relating to at least one of a number of games played by the player and an accumulated wager amount over a predefined period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising forcing the feature event to be awarded in the final stage of the game after a predefined amount of gameplay has been reached without the trigger occurring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein a play parameter for an awarded feature event is set in dependence on at least one of a number of stages that have been played at the time the trigger was detected and a characteristic of a feature event associated with a previous stage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according claim 1, wherein a play parameter for a feature event associated with one of the stages is different to a play parameter for a feature event associated with another one of the stages. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the feature event for each of the stages is the awarding of a number of free games and whereby the number of free games awarded progressively increases with each stage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising requiring a player to place a wager which is supplementary to a wager placed on the game in order to be eligible to be awarded one or more of the feature events in response to a single determination that a trigger for a particular stage has occurred. ### Claim 11 A method of gaming comprising: displaying play of a wager game having a plurality of stages with progression through the stages by a player being dependent on meeting a predefined amount of gameplay without having triggered a feature event; and in response to determining that a feature event has triggered in a particular stage, awarding the feature event associated with the particular stage as well as the feature event(s) associated with any preceding stages. ### Claim 12 Gaming apparatus comprising: a display module operable to display play of a game having a plurality of stages with progression through each stage being dependent on a predefined gameplay parameter, each of the stages being associated with a feature event that is awardable to the player in response to a trigger event being detected; an award module operable to monitor for the occurrence of the trigger event and in response thereto award the associated feature event as well as awarding the feature event(s) for any preceding stages. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A gaming apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a reset module operable to reset play of the game to a first stage upon the feature event(s) being awarded. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A gaming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a value or potential value of the feature event increases with each stage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A gaming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the predefined gameplay criteria is that at least one of (a) a particular game outcome has been achieved during play of the respective stage and (b) a predefined amount of gameplay has occurred. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A gaming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the predefined amount of gameplay is associated with at least one of the number of games played by the player and an accumulated wager amount for a predefined period of gameplay. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A gaming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the award module is further operable to force the feature event to be awarded in the final stage of the game after a predefined amount of gameplay has been reached without the trigger occurring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A gaming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the award module is operable to award the feature event(s) in succession. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A gaming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the feature event for each of the stages is the awarding of a number of free games and wherein the number of free games awarded progressively increases with each stage. ### Claim 20 A gaming system comprising: a gaming terminal implementing a display; and a gaming controller comprising: a display module operable to cause the gaming terminal display to display play of a game having a plurality of progressive stages with progression through each stage being dependent on a predefined gameplay parameter, each of the stages being associated with a feature event that is awarded to the player in response to a trigger event being detected; and an award module operable to monitor for the occurrence of the trigger event and in response thereto award the associated feature event as well as awarding the feature event(s) for any preceding stages to the gaming terminal.